Support Our Police: Legal Marches, Yes; Illegal Ones, No

News Release

Support Our Police: Legal Marches, Yes; Illegal Ones, No

On November 5, Lee Chien-jung, KMT Spokesman and Director of the KMT Culture and Communications Committee indicated that the DPP had submitted an application to use the roads surrounding the Legislative Yuan in accordance with the March and Assembly Act in order to express its political appeals, which should be safeguarded by the police. The KMT supports our law enforcement units in dealing with any protest marches during the “Chiang-Chen” meeting under the principle of protecting legal marches, but cracking down on illegal ones.

Director Lee stated, “Taiwan is a free and democratic country with a society governed by the rule of law. Most citizens support the law enforcement units’ efforts to maintain social order while supporting freedom at the same time. The KMT believes that the law enforcement units will make judicious decisions to ensure that important meetings take place without incident while still protecting the freedom of speech guaranteed by our Constitution in the face of the opposition party’s demands to expand the areas covered by their protests and marches.”

Lee also called on the principals and groups who submit applications to hold protest marches to shoulder social responsibility when they claim their rights. Lee added, “The DPP has submitted a request to hold a lawful protest march to express its appeals: ‘oppose tainted foods, safeguard Taiwan’. The KMT has responded to that appeal with an official press release to show our position against unsafe food, and we believe the Mainland should understand what we call for. In fact, the ‘Chiang-Chen’ meeting has handled the issue of food safety appropriately. I have to stress that the agreement signed in the ‘Chiang-Chen’ meeting is a positive response to the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan. The agreement will be submitted to the Legislative Yuan according to the Statute Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.”

Lee pointed out, “The DPP insists that food safety and the sovereignty of the Republic of China be safeguarded. In fact, this position helps the KMT administration in engaging the Mainland in consultations to that end. However, the DPP leadership has been reluctant to denounce violence and even encourages violence, resulting in subsequent social disorder and severely harming the image of our country. The KMT takes strong exception to the DPP’s position.”

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